Vehicle media and communications access

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, devices and/or apparatus relate to vehicle media and communications systems and/or providing communications network and/or satellite network access in a vehicle. Specifically, the disclosed methods, systems, devices and/or apparatus relate to providing access to data, communications and/or satellites using a modular vehicle media and communications system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/108,574, filed on Dec. 17, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,420,637, issuedon Aug. 16, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/853,287, filed on Mar. 29, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No.8,660,478, issued on Feb. 25, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/653,581, filed on Dec. 16, 2009, now U.S.Pat. No. 8,433,238, issued on Apr. 30, 2013, the disclosures of whichare hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties for allpurposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Internet access is a significant part of the content flow in today'ssociety. Content may be stored, accessed and/or modified viaInternet-based services. In-vehicle Internet access is becoming anincreasingly important part of people's lifestyles. However, problemswith this paradigm shift include:

-   -   The Internet is constantly changing and driven by consumer        electronics/mobile electronics.    -   Consumer and/or mobile electronics and in-vehicle electronics        typically have different development cycles and requirements.    -   Traditionally, vehicle entertainment and/or information systems        (including state of the art functions and/or features) have been        embedded into a vehicle architecture, making it difficult to        keep up with changes/demands driven by consumer and/or mobile        electronics.    -   Vehicle Internet access may also require a safe access method        based on dynamic driving conditions.

Therefore, vehicle users may desire a solution to enhance vehicleInternet access capabilities and, ultimately, provide a modular vehiclemedia and/or communications system with easy upgrading capabilities.Further, vehicle users may desire that such system include safetyelements to provide operation of the system only when the vehicle is ina specific operating and/or non-operating state.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The vehicle media and communications access concept of the inventionenables the separation of quickly changing infotainment functions frominfotainment functions that change slowly or not at all. Functions thathave historically changed slowly include AM/FM/XM radio, amplifiers, anddigital signal processors. Functions that have historically changedquickly include wireless connectivity, and interfacing withmobile/portable devices. The invention may enable the in-vehiclehardware and software associated with quickly changing functions to alsochange quickly in response.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the quickly changingfunctions may be physically partitioned from the slowly changingfunctions, thereby facilitating the changing or replacement of hardwareassociated with the quickly changing functions. For example, a separatephysical box or infotainment device may be used to contain allhardware/software associated with slowly changing vehicle infotainmentfunctions. This box may contain hardware/software associated withAM/FM/XM as well as amplifiers and digital signal processors.

Another separate detachable and/or modular device may containhardware/software associated with functions that change with consumerelectronics product cycles, or that change from region-to-region. Thisdetachable/modular device may also include brand system elements such asthe skin of the detachable/modular device, a display of a particularsize, and/or human-machine interface (HMI) elements. Thisdetachable/modular device may be replaced and/or upgraded every two tothree years as needed to match the product cycle of consumerelectronics. The detachable/modular device may be carried from vehicleto vehicle and may be a personal device to carry personalizationparameters from vehicle to vehicle. The detachable/modular device mayalso be used outside the vehicle to provide location basedservices/applications based on mode/place/time. Depending on the OEMrequirements, the detachable/modular device may be upgraded by theautomobile dealers every two to three years or as needed as newfunctions/features become available.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a brand-specificdetachable device which can be used at all modes/places/times, and whichalso ties the vehicle brand into a lifestyle brand content. This mayenable sponsor-generated content and/or sponsor-generated content to beprovided for the user based on mode/place/time. This may also enable acar OEM to be part of this business equation and evolving new businessmodel.

According to another embodiment of the invention, complexfunctions/features may also require a human machine interface to bedynamic and to be adjusted by vehicle parameters. The dynamic humanmachine interface may interpret vehicle conditions and optimize theDriver User Interface based upon the interpretation. The dynamic humanmachine interface may be defined based on the vehicle parameters ofvehicle speed, transmission state, and the state of the hand brake, forexample.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will becomemore fully apparent from the following description and appended claims,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding thatthese drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with thedisclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of itsscope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity anddetail through use of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting an example embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting another example embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram depicting an example embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram depicting even another example embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram depicting yet another example embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless contextdictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in thedetailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting.Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made,without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matterpresented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of thepresent disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated inthe Figures, may be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in awide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitlycontemplated and make part of this disclosure.

This disclosure is drawn to methods, systems, devices and/or apparatusrelated to vehicle media and communications system and/or providingcommunications network and/or satellite network access in a vehicle.Specifically, the disclosed methods, systems, devices and/or apparatusrelate to providing access to data, communications and/or satellitesusing a modular vehicle media and communications system.

While much of the present disclosure depicts and/or describesautomobile-based example embodiments, it is certainly within the scopeof the present disclosure that embodiments may be implemented in anyvehicle including, without limitation, motorcycles and other road-basedvehicles, all-terrain vehicles and other off-road-based vehicles, boatsand other water-based vehicles, airplanes and other air-based vehicles,and the like.

In an example embodiment (as depicted in FIG. 1), vehicle media andcommunications system 10 is provided in an example environment in whichsystem 10 may be implemented. Such a system 10 may located withinvehicle 12. System 10 may be adapted to receive radio signals (includingterrestrial radio signals 14 and/or satellite radio signals 16, forexample). System 10 may be further adapted to communicate with and/orreceive data and/or signals from a satellite network (including videosatellite 18 and/or communications network 20, for example).

In an example embodiment (as depicted in FIG. 2), vehicle media andcommunications system 10 is provided. Such system 10 may be adapted toreceive radio signals 26 (including terrestrial radio signals 14 and/orsatellite radio signals 16, for example). System 10 may be furtheradapted to communicate with and/or receive communications/data and/orsignals 28 from satellite network 18, communications network and/orcellular network 20 (including video satellite 18 and/or Internet 20,cellular network 20 and/or communications network 20, for example).System 10 may include first module 22, second module 24 and display 30.First module 22 may include amplitude modulation (AM) receiver 32,frequency modulation (FM) receiver 34 and/or satellite radio receiver36. Second module 24 may be adapted to communicate with communicationsnetwork 20 and/or satellite network 18. Second module 24 may be furtheradapted to output communications/data 28 from communications network 20and/or satellite network 18.

In one embodiment, first module 22 may include amplification component38 (FIG. 4) adapted to amplify the media file and/or media signal. Thefirst module 22 may also include digital signal processing component 40adapted to process the media file and/or media signal.

In one embodiment, second module 24 may include a compact disc (CD)player, an MP3 player, a digital video disc (DVD) player, ahigh-definition video player, a wireless network adapter, a cellularnetwork adapter, a satellite communications network adapter, a satellitevideo receiver and/or a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

In one embodiment, communications network 20 may include the Internet, alocal area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network(WAN), a global area network (GAN), a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network,a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) network, aGlobal System for Mobile (GSM) network and/or a code division multipleaccess (CDMA) network. Satellite network 18 may include a satellitecommunications network, a satellite video network and a GPS network.

In one embodiment, second module 24 may include one or more of thefollowing features/functionalities:

-   -   Wireless Connectivity (Wi-Fi, Cellular, WiMAX, etc.)    -   Internet Browsing    -   Internet Based PC Applications (e.g., GOOGLE® Applications)    -   On Board Navigation with built in GPS (base map with routing)    -   Off Board Navigation    -   Location Based Services with ‘Sponsor push” content    -   Location Based Search Capability with “Driver pull” content    -   Infotainment/Soft Media capability    -   Active (GPS-based) Gaming    -   E-mail (Text To Speech)    -   Travel Assistance, Concierge Services    -   Secure Personal Applications (e.g., Banking)    -   Vertical Business Applications (e.g., Real Estate Agents)    -   Personal Devices with Design, Brand, Style, Fashion Statements    -   Exploring “NEW” on going Revenue Models

In one embodiment (as depicted in FIG. 4, for example), second module 24may include display device 30 to display communications/data. Displaydevice 30 may be integrated with second module 24 (as depicted in FIG.4, for example) and/or merely in communication with second module 24 (asdepicted in FIG. 2, for example). Second module 24 may also includebezel 42 surrounding a face of display device 30. Bezel 42 may includebranding indicia 44 (such as a company logo, trademark, slogan,advertisement, and/or the like) disposed on a face of bezel 42. Secondmodule 24 may also display advertisements and/or sponsored content ondisplay device 30. In one embodiment, second module 24 may include oneor more hardware buttons 46 on bezel 42 to operate and/or actuatefunctions of second module 24. Additionally or alternatively, secondmodule 24 may include one or more software buttons (not pictured) onbezel 42 to operate and/or actuate functions of second module 24. Secondmodule 24 may include one or more audio speakers 49 to play audiocontent that may be associated with video content played on displaydevice 30.

In one embodiment, second module 24 may be modular in nature such thatsecond module 24 may be detached from vehicle media and communicationssystem 10. In this manner, second module 24 may operate as a“standalone” device within or outside the vehicle. Further, in oneembodiment, because second module 24 may be detached, second module 24may be replaced with a new and/or upgraded module (featuring new,additional and/or improved features/functions). In one embodiment,second module 24 may be coupled to system 10 and/or first module 22using a cradle/docking station 50. Cradle/docking station 50 may bepermanently affixed to a hard plastic body 51 of system 10. In anotherembodiment, second module 24 may be integrated within system 10. Secondmodule 24 may include a battery as a power source when second module 24is detached from vehicle media and communications system 10. Oneembodiment allows for the storage of personalization parameters withinsecond module 24. Personalization parameters may be associated withsystem 10 settings, preferences, states and/or shortcuts. In thismanner, second module 24 may retain personalization parameters even whensecond module 24 is detached from system 10.

In one embodiment, system 10 may also include vehicle parameter module48 (FIG. 5). Vehicle parameter module 48 may receive vehicle stateparameters. Vehicle parameter module 48 may compare the received vehiclestate parameters to predetermined vehicle state parameters. Examplevehicle state parameters may include a vehicle speed parameter, avehicle transmission parameter and/or a vehicle braking parameter, amongothers. Vehicle parameter module 48 may communicate with the secondmodule to disallow outputting and/or display of communications/databased, at least in part, on the vehicle state parameters.

As depicted in FIG. 3, a method 300 of providing communications networkand/or satellite network access in a vehicle is provided. Such a methodmay include processing operations 302, 304, 306 and/or 308. Beginning atoperation 302, a command to output a media signal and/orcommunications/data from the communications network and/or the satellitenetwork may be received. Operation 304 may include receiving vehiclestate parameter(s). Continuing from operation 304, operation 306 mayinclude comparing the received vehicle state parameter(s) withpredetermined vehicle state parameter(s). At operation 308, the mediasignal and/or the communication/data may be outputted based, at least inpart, on the comparing operation (operation 306).

Vehicle state parameters may include a vehicle speed parameter, avehicle transmission parameter and/or a vehicle braking parameter, amongothers. In one embodiment, the comparing operation (operation 306) mayinclude (i) comparing the vehicle speed parameter with a predeterminedvehicle speed parameter, (ii) comparing the vehicle transmissionparameter with a predetermined vehicle transmission parameter, and/or(iii) comparing the vehicle braking parameter with a predeterminedvehicle braking parameter.

In one embodiment, a predetermined vehicle speed parameter maycorrespond to a vehicle speed of zero miles per hour (e.g., no vehiclespeed or vehicle is not moving). A predetermined vehicle transmissionparameter may correspond to a parked condition (e.g., the transmissionis not in a forward, neutral and/or reverse condition). A predeterminedvehicle braking parameter may correspond to vehicle brake engagement(e.g., the vehicle parking brake or foot brake is engaged and/orapplied).

In an exemplary embodiment (as depicted in FIG. 5), a vehicle media andcommunications system 10 may be provided. System 10 may include radiomodule 52, data module 54 and/or vehicle parameter module 48. Radiomodule 52 may receive and/or output an FM signal 26, an AM signal 26and/or a satellite radio signal 26, among others. Radio module 52 mayalso amplify and/or process the FM signal 26, the AM signal 26 and/orthe satellite radio signal 26. Data module 54 may transmit to and/orreceive communications data 28 from the Internet, a local area network(LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a global areanetwork (GAN), a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network, a WorldwideInteroperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) network, a Global Systemfor Mobile (GSM) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA)network, a satellite communications network, a satellite video networkand a global positioning system (GPS) network. Data module 54 may alsooutput the data 28 on a display. In one embodiment, data module 54 maybe detachably coupled to system 10.

In one embodiment, vehicle parameter module 48 may receive vehicle stateparameters 56 and compare vehicle state parameters 56 to predeterminedstate parameters. Vehicle state parameters 56 may include vehicle speedparameter 58, vehicle transmission parameter 60 and/or vehicle brakingparameter 62. Vehicle parameter module 48 may communicate with datamodule 54 to disallow outputting data 28 on the display based, at leastin part, on vehicle state parameters 56.

In a specific embodiment, a dynamic human machine interface providesdifferent levels of internet access depending upon the then-currentstate of parameters 56. More particularly, in order to prevent thedriver from diverting so much of his attention to the internet that hecannot drive safely, only limited internet functionality may be providedwhen the vehicle is in motion, is being operated, or otherwise requiresa relatively high portion of the driver's attention. For example, whenthe vehicle speed is zero, the vehicle transmission is in “park”, andthe hand brake is on, internet applications may be provided with fullfunctionality. For example, the driver may be provided with fullinternet access with detailed information and no limitations on fontsize. However, if the vehicle speed is nonzero, the vehicle transmissionis in drive, and/or the hand brake is off, then only limited internetfunctionality may be provided. The limitations on internet functionalitymay include putting a lower limit on the font size that can be displayedon the video screen. Thus, with only relatively large lettering ensured,the user can quickly read what is presented on the screen at a glancewithout having to view the screen for too long of an uninterruptedperiod of time. The limitations on internet functionality may alsoinclude allowing the driver to navigate the internet only by use ofvoice commands or, in a specific embodiment, previously established“voice tags”, as described below.

A voice tag may enable a driver or other user to record internetnavigation key strokes and record a spoken label in association with theseries of key strokes. For example, a user may enter the internet accesskeystrokes corresponding to the web site for the Washington Post, andthen save the keystrokes with the spoken voice command “Internet VoiceTag”. The user may then save the keystrokes with the spoken voicecommand tag “Washington Post”, or “Newspaper”, or any other label thatthe user wishes to assign to the internet address. Later, when the userwant to navigate to the washingtonpost.com web site, the user may speak“Internet”, and after his internet home page is automatically accessedby the system, the user may then speak “Washington Post” to cause thesystem to automatically navigate to the washingtonpost.com web site.

To provide additional context for various aspects of the presentinvention, the following discussion is intended to provide a brief,general description of a suitable computing environment in which thevarious aspects of the invention may be implemented. While oneembodiment of the invention relates to the general context ofcomputer-executable instructions that may run on one or more computers,those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention also may beimplemented in combination with other program modules and/or as acombination of hardware and software (including hardware and/or softwareof vehicle entertainment and/or information systems).

Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, datastructures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat aspects of the inventive methods may be practiced with othercomputer system configurations, including single-processor ormultiprocessor computer systems, minicomputers, as well as personalcomputers, hand-held wireless computing devices, microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer electronics (including vehicle entertainmentand/or information systems) and the like, each of which can beoperatively coupled to one or more associated devices. Aspects of theinvention may also be practiced in distributed computing environmentswhere certain tasks are performed by remote processing devices that arelinked through a communications network. In a distributed computingenvironment, program modules may be located in both local and remotememory storage devices.

An exemplary environment for implementing various aspects of theinvention may include a computer that includes a processing unit, asystem memory and a system bus. The system bus couples system componentsincluding, but not limited to, the system memory to the processing unit.The processing unit may be any of various commercially availableprocessors. Dual microprocessors and other multi processor architecturesmay also be employed as the processing unit.

The computer may further include an internal hard disk drive (HDD)(e.g., EIDE, SATA), which internal hard disk drive may also beconfigured for external use in a suitable chassis and/or an optical diskdrive, (e.g., reading a CD-ROM disk or, to read from or write to otherhigh capacity optical media such as the DVD). The hard disk drive and/oroptical disk drive may be connected to the system bus by a hard diskdrive interface and/or an optical drive interface, respectively. Theinterface for external drive implementations includes at least one orboth of Universal Serial Bus (USB) and IEEE 1394 interface technologies.

The drives and their associated computer-readable media may providenonvolatile storage of data, data structures, computer-executableinstructions, and so forth. For the computer, the drives and mediaaccommodate the storage of any data in a suitable digital format.Although the description of computer-readable media above refers to aHDD and a removable optical media such as a CD or DVD, it should beappreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of media whichare readable by a computer may also be used in the exemplary operatingenvironment, and further, that any such media may containcomputer-executable instructions for performing the methods of theinvention.

A number of program modules may be stored in the drives and RAM,including an operating system, one or more application programs, otherprogram modules and program data. All or portions of the operatingsystem, applications, modules, and/or data may also be cached in theRAM. It is appreciated that the invention may be implemented withvarious commercially available operating systems or combinations ofoperating systems.

It is within the scope of the disclosure that a user may enter commandsand information into the computer through one or more wired/wirelessinput devices, for example, a touch screen display, a keyboard and/or apointing device, such as a mouse. Other input devices may include amicrophone (functioning in association with appropriate languageprocessing/recognition software as know to those of ordinary skill inthe technology), an IR remote control, a joystick, a game pad, a styluspen, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected tothe processing unit through an input device interface that is coupled tothe system bus, but may be connected by other interfaces, such as aparallel port, an IEEE 1394 serial port, a game port, a USB port, an IRinterface, etc.

A display monitor or other type of display device may also be connectedto the system bus via an interface, such as a video adapter. In additionto the monitor, a computer may include other peripheral output devices,such as speakers, printers, etc.

The computer may operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections via wired and/or wireless communications to one or moreremote computers. The remote computer(s) may be a workstation, a servercomputer, a router, a personal computer, a portable computer, a personaldigital assistant, a cellular device, a microprocessor-basedentertainment appliance, a peer device or other common network node, andmay include many or all of the elements described relative to thecomputer. The logical connections depicted include wired/wirelessconnectivity to a local area network (LAN) and/or larger networks, forexample, a wide area network (WAN). Such LAN and WAN networkingenvironments are commonplace in offices, and companies, and facilitateenterprise-wide computer networks, such as intranets, all of which mayconnect to a global communications network such as the Internet.

The computer may be operable to communicate with any wireless devices orentities operatively disposed in wireless communication, e.g., aprinter, scanner, desktop and/or portable computer, portable dataassistant, communications satellite, any piece of equipment or locationassociated with a wirelessly detectable tag (e.g., a kiosk, news stand,restroom), and telephone. This includes at least Wi-Fi (such as IEEE802.11x (a, b, g, n, etc.)) and Bluetooth™ wireless technologies. Thus,the communication may be a predefined structure as with a conventionalnetwork or simply an ad hoc communication between at least two devices.

The system may also include one or more server(s). The server(s) mayalso be hardware and/or software (e.g., threads, processes, computingdevices). The servers may house threads to perform transformations byemploying aspects of the invention, for example. One possiblecommunication between a client and a server may be in the form of a datapacket adapted to be transmitted between two or more computer processes.The data packet may include a cookie and/or associated contextualinformation, for example. The system may include a communicationframework (e.g., a global communication network such as the Internet)that may be employed to facilitate communications between the client(s)and the server(s).

Following from the above description and invention summaries, it shouldbe apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that, while themethods and apparatuses herein described constitute exemplaryembodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that theinventions contained herein are not limited to the above preciseembodiment and that changes may be made without departing from the scopeof the invention. Likewise, it is to be understood that it is notnecessary to meet any or all of the identified advantages or objects ofthe invention disclosed herein in order to fall within the scope of theinvention, since inherent and/or unforeseen advantages of the presentinvention may exist even though they may not have been explicitlydiscussed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A motor vehicle comprising a media andcommunications system, the media and communications system operablycoupled to one or more media source having a media file and/or mediasignal, the media and communications system including: a first moduleincluding at least one of a frequency modulation (FM) receiver, anamplitude modulation (AM) receiver and a satellite radio receiver, thefirst module being adapted to receive and output the media file and/orthe media signal on a video display and/or audio speaker; a removablesecond module adapted to: communicate with a network; outputcommunications from the network on the video display and/or audiospeaker; and store personalization parameters associated with at leastone of vehicle media and communications system settings, vehicle mediaand communications system states and vehicle media and communicationssystem shortcuts; and a cradle/docking station detachably coupled to thesecond module.
 2. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first modulefurther comprises: an amplification component adapted to amplify themedia file and/or media signal; and a digital signal processingcomponent adapted to process the media file and/or media signal.
 3. Themotor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first module is fixed.
 4. Themotor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the media file and/or media signalcomprises at least one of an FM signal, an AM signal and a satelliteradio signal.
 5. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the second modulecomprises at least one of a compact disc (CD) player, an MP3 player, adigital video disc (DVD) player, a high-definition video player, awireless network adapter, a cellular network adapter, a satellitecommunications network adapter, a satellite video receiver and a globalpositioning system (GPS) receiver.
 6. The motor vehicle of claim 1,wherein the network comprises at least one of the Internet, a local areanetwork (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), aglobal area network (GAN), a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network, aWorldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) network, aGlobal System for Mobile (GSM) network, a code division multiple access(CDMA) network.
 7. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the networkcomprises at least one of a satellite communications network, asatellite video network and a GPS network.
 8. The motor vehicle of claim1, wherein the second module comprises: a display device adapted todisplay the communications from the network; and a battery adapted toprovide power to the second module when the second module is detachedfrom the media and communications system.
 9. The motor vehicle of claim8, wherein the second module further comprises a bezel surrounding aface of the display device, the bezel having a branding indiciumdisposed on a face of the bezel, and the second module is furtheradapted to display at least one of advertisements and sponsored contenton the display device.
 10. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein thecradle/docking station is permanently affixed to a body of the media andcommunications system.
 11. The motor vehicle of claim 1, furthercomprising: a vehicle parameter module adapted to receive one or morevehicle state parameters, the vehicle state parameters comprising atleast one of a vehicle speed parameter, a vehicle transmission parameterand a vehicle braking parameter; wherein the vehicle parameter modulecommunicates with the second module to disallow outputtingcommunications from the network based, at least in part, on the vehiclestate parameters.
 12. A method of providing communications networkand/or satellite network access in a vehicle, the method comprising thefollowing steps performed within the vehicle: receiving a command tooutput at least one of a media signal and a communication, the commandbeing received from outside the vehicle; receiving one or more vehiclestate parameters; comparing the received vehicle state parameters withone or more predetermined vehicle state parameters; and outputting themedia signal and/or the communication based, at least in part, on thecomparing of the received vehicle state parameters with thepredetermined vehicle state parameters.
 13. The method of claim 12,wherein the vehicle state parameters comprise at least one of a vehiclespeed parameter, a vehicle transmission parameter and a vehicle brakingparameter.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein comparing the receivedvehicle state parameters with one or more predetermined vehicle stateparameters further includes at least one of: (i) comparing the vehiclespeed parameter with a predetermined vehicle speed parameter (ii)comparing the vehicle transmission parameter with a predeterminedvehicle transmission parameter; and (iii) comparing the vehicle brakingparameter with a predetermined vehicle braking parameter.
 15. The methodof claim 13, wherein the command is from at least one of thecommunications network and the satellite network, and the predeterminedvehicle state parameters comprise at least one of a predeterminedvehicle speed parameter, a predetermined vehicle transmission parameterand a predetermined vehicle braking parameter; and wherein thepredetermined vehicle speed parameter corresponds to a vehicle speed ofzero miles per hour, the predetermined vehicle transmission parametercorresponds to a parked condition, and the predetermined vehicle brakingparameter corresponds to a vehicle brake engagement.
 16. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the command is from at least one of the communicationsnetwork and the satellite network, and the outputting step includesdisplaying the media signal and/or the communication with a font that isdependent on the comparing of the received vehicle state parameters withthe predetermined vehicle state parameters.
 17. The method of claim 16,wherein the outputting step includes displaying the media signal and/orthe communication with a lower limit on a size of the font if thevehicle speed is nonzero, the vehicle transmission is in drive, or thehand brake is off, and displaying the media signal and/or thecommunication with no lower limit on the size of the font if the vehiclespeed is zero, the vehicle transmission is not in drive, and the handbrake is on.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein the command is from atleast one of the communications network and the satellite network, themethod comprising the further step of controlling which of two levels ofinternet access that the driver is provided with, the controlling beingbased, at least in part, on the comparing of the received vehicle stateparameters with the predetermined vehicle state parameters, a first ofthe two levels of internet access comprising allowing the driver tonavigate the internet by use of both voice commands and keystrokes, asecond of the two levels of internet access comprising allowing thedriver to navigate the internet only by use of voice commands.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, wherein the driver is provided with the second levelof internet access if the vehicle speed is nonzero or the vehicletransmission is in drive, and the driver is provided with the firstlevel of internet access if the vehicle speed is zero and the vehicletransmission is not in drive.
 20. A motor vehicle including a media andcommunications system, the media and communications system comprising: abody; a radio module coupled to the body and adapted to receive andoutput at least one of a frequency modulation (FM) signal, an amplitudemodulation (AM) signal and a satellite radio signal, the radio modulefurther adapted to amplify and process the FM signal, the AM signaland/or the satellite radio signal; a data module detachably coupled tothe body and adapted to transmit to and receive data from at least oneof the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), awide area network (WAN), a global area network (GAN), a wirelessfidelity (Wi-Fi) network, a Worldwide Interoperability for MicrowaveAccess (WIMAX) network, a Global System for Mobile (GSM) network, a codedivision multiple access (CDMA) network, a satellite communicationsnetwork, a satellite video network and a global positioning system (GPS)network, and further adapted to output the data on a display; and avehicle parameter module adapted to receive one or more vehicle stateparameters and further adapted to compare the vehicle state parametersto one or more predetermined state parameters, the vehicle stateparameters comprising at least one of a vehicle speed parameter, avehicle transmission parameter and a vehicle braking parameter, whereinthe vehicle parameter module communicates with the data module todisallow outputting data on the display based, at least in part, on thevehicle state parameters.